This year, Clearwater Beach topped TripAdvisor’s Top 10 U.S. beaches list for the 2018 Traveler’s Choice Award, reports Frances McMorris for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Clearwater also ranked at number 7 in their world-wide list–the only U.S. beach to rank in the top 10.

The travel site raved about Clearwater’s “two and a half miles of sugar-white sand, crystal-clear waters and tranquil Gulf breezes.” TripAdvisor’s rankings are influential to many travelers, and this accolade couldn’t come at a better time.

Many Clearwater hotels are either renovating their properties or opening up new locations, ready to be flooded with tourists and vacationers over spring break. The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa and the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa just finished extensive renovations, while the Wyndham Grand Resort and the Marriott and Residence Inn Tampa Clearwater Beach and SpringHill Suites Tampa Clearwater Beach recently opened.

The Top 10 U.S. beaches list featured six Florida beaches in total, including Siesta Beach in Siesta Key (number 2) and St. Pete Beach in St. Petersburg (number 7).

According to Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor, “The Caribbean and Florida stake claims as the most decorated on the world and U.S. lists respectively, and based on TripAdvisor price reports, travelers can still find outstanding value on warm-weather escapes to these popular beaches this year.”

Audrey Pitcher is a Media and Communications Studies major at Ursinus College. Ve is a board member of the Ursinus Gender and Sexuality Alliance. Ve also works as a writing fellow in the Center for Writing and Speaking, where ve helps fellow students improve their writing skills. Audrey was recently featured at Ursinus' Celebration Of Student Achievement for an essay on the mapping of femininity onto gay men in late 20th century theater.